Engineering Homework Help

In your initial post, introduce yourself to the class by describing your interest in the impact of systems on organizations and what you hope to gain from this course. Then take a moment to look at the world around you and consider how it is filled with systems. You will likely see an alarm clock, a washing machine, an automobile, or a bike; you may even be wearing a system in the form of a Fitbit. Technically speaking, you are a system.

Systems are so embedded and tied to our capacity to function that often we take them for granted. We can also fail to recognize the significance of the parts that make up systems. For instance, would a washing machine still function effectively without a drain pipe? How about a bicycle without pedals? Essentially, a whole system is a collective of parts that work together.

In your initial post, you are to create your own definition of what a system is, beyond the idea that it is a collection of parts. For this post, you may want to consider:

Feedback as it relates to the idea of systems

Different kinds of systems

• System functionality
• For the second part of this initial post, you will choose an organization, such as a chain of stores or a corporation, and consider the systems that exist within the organization. Within your post, answer the following questions:
• What systems might exist within the organization?

How might the systems impact functionality in the organization?

In your response to two peers, address the following questions:

• How might the success of your peers’ systems be measured?
• Which system do you think has the most overall impact on the organization?

1st peer post

Alan Fairfield posted Oct 26, 2021 9:00 AM

Hello class! Great to be here in week one of this course.

I would define a system as a collection of individual components, which work together in synergy to enact particular functions, in a way that is more efficient than the individual sums of the system’s constituent parts. Interaction and interdependence are key elements of what constitutes a system, as the prompt established with the washing machine and drainpipe example. Each component may measure, transmit, collect, store, or apply a certain processing to information, and this feedback is what differentiates a system from a process. Then, processes which are interrelated and involve human and/or technological processes are commonly accepted definitions of systems. There are many different types of systems. Order processing, payroll, office automation, support, are all types of systems which augment organizational processes. With each type of system, are different functionalities. An order processing system functions as a ledger for orders, and as a transmitter of data to the relevant interfaces, so orders can be completed. Payroll handles employee information and ensures that inputs and outputs are confidential and have integrity.

Furthermore, going back to the washing machine example, some systems may be kinetic, while other systems may be cybernetic, electrical, mechanical, or human (which is somewhat different from cybernetic, which incorporates humans with information systems).

Organizations may have payroll systems, Point of Sale (POS) systems, database systems, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS), quality assurance systems, and office automation systems. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and there are many other types of systems that might exist within an organization. Organizations also may have kinetic systems, like HVAC systems, electrical systems to power their operations, or mechanical systems (depending on the type of organization), which work in concert with information systems.

These systems naturally impact the functionality of organizations. Information systems allow for information to be stored, processed, transmitted, and otherwise utilized for functional purposes. Electrical and HVAC systems enable an organization to enact regular operations, including the maintenance of information systems. Human-centric systems, like payroll, allow the organization to employ and contract people under relevant laws and regulations, which impacts functionality by enabling a much higher output.

Undoubtedly, systems both enable a baseline level of functionality, and magnify functionality greatly. Let me know what you all think!

2nd peer post

Kyle Sanborn posted Oct 26, 2021 4:59 PM

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Hello everyone!

My interest of systems on organizations is the interaction that not only the collection of parts have but how the systems can interact with each other as well. Different systems work together, and that can technically be classified as a system – making a system a collection of systems. It is incredibly interesting to me to think about how each part of a system is important, but other parts play more vital roles. The criticality of each role is worth analysis itself, and I hope to learn more about this important from this course.

My own definition of a system would be numerous items coming together to work towards a common goal, each having their own purpose in accomplishing said goal. Each item affects the system in its own way, where it can either affect the entire system or only other specific parts of the system. This, however, could potentially create a cascading effect throughout the system where one failure could create other failures leading to an entire system failure which could then potentially affect other systems that are connected to this one. The possibilities with systems and the effect that one failure can have almost seem endless!

One major aspect for organizations, such as Walmart, would be their sales and marketing systems. Sales could be seen as one system, and marketing could be seen as another. When done correctly, these two systems could create a positive feedback loop where if one is doing well, the other also does well. However, the same can be said if one is doing poorly, the other could potentially do poorly as well. Marketing needs to device strategies that can boost their product’s appeal or outreach, leading to an increased interest in those products. Sales would then ensure that they have those chosen products in stock to meet the increased demand that marketing has created. If this goes well, marketing brings people in, and then sales keeps up with the stock. More people hear about this and become interested in buying the product, and then buy it if they see it in stores. This would result in a successful marketing and sales campaign. In a different case, marketing could bring increased interest in those products, but if sales can’t keep up with demand, then the success that marketing would bring in is directly affected. Similarly, if marketing doesn’t raise interest in those chosen products, then there might be a higher supply and lower demand, leading to lowering prices in order to get rid of these products faster. Overall, it is clear that these two systems have direct impacts on one another.